Moistening apparatus for sealing adhesive surfaces and the like



HE LIKE J. SIEGEL June 11, 1940.

MOISTENING APPARATUS FOR SEALING ADHESIVE SURFACES AND T Filed June 10, 1939 INVENTOR. JANE S/EGEL ATTORNEY.

Patented'June 11, 1940 A UNITED sTATEs MOISTENING APPARATUS FOR SEALING ADHESIVE SURFACES AND THE LIKE Jane Siegel, New York, N. Y. Application June 10, 1939, Serial No. 278,577

3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for moistening and sealing adhesive coated articles, such as envelopes, and particularly to a combination water-receptacle and roller-holder. The water- 5 receptacle and roller-holder of the invention is specifically designed for use with a inoisteningroller of the moisture absorbent type having a suitable bracket for supporting the roller and a handle for accommodating the bracket.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a compact and easily manufactured receptacle which will satisfy the following requirements: Provide a holder for the moistening roller when not being used; provide a non spilling container for the moistening fluid; and provide a drain and suitable cooperating means for removing surplus fluid from the roller and for enabling the excess fluid to drain back into the reservoir.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from a reading of the following description which is accompanied by a drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a side perspective view of the combination water-receptacle and roller-holder of the invention, partly broken away to illustrate more completely the construction of the article;

Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1, taken along the line 22; and

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 1, taken along the line 33. In this figure the moistening roller is shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 shows in dotted lines the type of moistening roller, known in the art, with which the water-receptacle of the invention is designed to be used. This roller comprises a torus shaped sponge rubber absorbent material I mounted on bracket arms 2, 2 supporting a suitable axle or spool 3 upon which the rubber is rotatable, the 40 whole roller being held in place by a suitable cylindrical handle 4.

The receptacle of the invention is made of sheet metal having side walls 5, 5 and end walls 6, 6, and is divided into two sections by a transverse partition 9 provided with a hole 1 at its upper edge and a pair of spaced holes 8, 8 at its lower edge. The smaller section of the receptacle is the reservoir in which the roller l is dipped prior to use for moistening purposes, while the larger section will be referred to as the drain section. The purpose of the holes 8, 8 is to permit water to flow from the drain section into the reservoir.

A perforated sheet metal plate I is provided in the drain section, which cooperates with a hinged sheet metal door II to squeeze surplus water out of the roller. Plate I0 is provided with perforations at frequent intervals throughout its area, and is maintained in a raised position with respect to the bottom of the receptacle by means of legs 12 which are integral with the plate and preferably formed by bending both sides of plate in at right angles to the perforated portion. If desired, there may be provided a shelf I3 located on partition 9 for supporting one end of perforated plate It. Door II is mounted in the drain section at the end removed from partition 3 and is hinged between the side walls 5, of the receptacle, thus enabling the door to be lowered upon the perforated plate In. For this purpose, there is provided a suitable handle hi on the door H which can take any desired form.

One corner of the reservoir section serves as a holder for the moistening roller, being made from a metal strip l5 which extends from the bottom of the receptacle a sufficient distance above the level of the water to enable the handle 4 of the moistening-roller to be inserted into the space between strip l5 and the corner it bounds. Strip l5 should be welded to the bottom and the walls of this corner of the reservoir to provide a dry compartment for the handle of the roller.

In the operation of the combined water-receptacle and roller holder of the invention, a certain amount of water is placed in the reservoir to enable the moistening roller to easily absorb a large amount of the water when the spon e rubber is dipped into the reservoir immediately before it is to be used. The roller will then be removed from the reservoir and the sponge rubber placed on top of the perforated plate H] with the handle 4 extending through the hole 1 in partition 9, it being understood that for this operation the door H is in a raised position. The door II will now be lowered and the excess or surplus water from the sponge rubber of the roller squeezed out to drain back to the reservoir through the perforations in plate ill and holes 8, 8. The door may now be raised and the roller is ready for use. a

What is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, an oblong water receptacle, a partition dividing the longest dimension of said receptacle into a reservoir section and a drain section, said partition having holes therein for enabling water from said drain section to flow into said reservoir, a raised perforated plate in said drain section, and a cover for said perforated plate for cooperating therewith to squeeze surplus water from an absorbent material adapted to be placed therebetween.

2. A combination water-receptacle and rollerholder comprising a sheet metal oblong container, a metal partition dividing the longest dimension of said container into a reservoir section and a drain section, said partition having holes atthe bottom for enabling water from said drain section to flow into said reservoir, a raised perforated plate on said drain section, and a cover for said perforated plate hinged to said container for cooperating with said plate to squeeze water from an absorbent moistening roller, said reservoir section having a dry compartment in one corner thereof for accommodating the handle of said roller, said partition having a hole in the top thereof for enabling the handle of said roller to be placed therein when said roller is being squeezed between said cover and perforated plate.

3. A combination water-receptacle and rollerholder comprising a sheet metal oblong container, a metal partition dividing the longest dimension of said container into a reservoir section and a drain section, said partition having holes at the bottom for enabling water from said drain section to flow into said reservoir, a raised perforated plate in said drain section, and a cover for said perforated plate hinged to said container for cooperating with said plate to squeeze water from an absorbent moistening roller, a handle for said cover, said reservoir section having in one corner thereof a strip of metal extending from the bottom of said container above the level of the water in said receptacle for accommodating the handle of said roller, said partition having a hole in the top thereof for enabling the handle of said roller to be placed therein when said roller is being squeezed between said cover and perforated plate.

JANE SIEGEL. 

